Gulitti on Devils: Travis Zajac contributes more than offense

The Record

Ask Travis Zajac to evaluate his season and the Devils center suggests there’s more work for him to do before an accurate grade can be determined.

"I don’t know if I’m ready to comment on it fully," he said. "But I think I’ve played some consistent hockey lately after the break. I’m just worried about this stretch here and making sure this is my best hockey of year."

Zajac is playing his best hockey of the season since the Olympic break. He entered Friday night’s game in Florida with three goals and three assists in seven games since the Olympics.

Zajac’s 12 goals and 23 assists in 64 games before Friday were not the numbers of the typical No. 1 center, but Devils coach Pete DeBoer often reminds that Zajac’s game cannot be judged on points alone because of everything else he does – taking most of the key faceoffs, killing penalties and watching the back of linemate right wing Jaromir Jagr.

Jagr clearly appreciates having Zajac as his center. Knowing he has the defensively responsible Zajac with him gives Jagr a little more freedom to do his thing in the offensive zone.

"I think it just gives confidence to his linemates and the coaches too," Jagr said. "When he’s on the ice, there’s not many breakdowns."

Yet, Jagr believes there is more offense inside of Zajac and he’s seen more flashes of it recently.

In Tuesday’s 2-1 win in Philadelphia, Zajac demonstrated great patience in scoring the Devils’ first goal, holding onto the puck while cutting across the front of the net before firing it past goaltender Steve Mason.

"It was a great goal," Jagr said. "You know he has it when you make a move like that. There’s 80 percent of the guys who would shoot right away. It’s just to hold it and have patience."

Coming out of the Olympic break, DeBoer held individual meetings with all of his players. To Zajac and Adam Henrique, DeBoer stressed the importance of "attacking the net."

Both players have taken that advice to heart.

"I’ve mentally tried to focus on that a little bit that when I get the chance, shooting it and shooting to score and just trying to take pucks to the net as much as possible," Zajac said.

Gulitti on Devils: Travis Zajac contributes more than offense

The Record

Ask Travis Zajac to evaluate his season and the Devils center suggests there’s more work for him to do before an accurate grade can be determined.

"I don’t know if I’m ready to comment on it fully," he said. "But I think I’ve played some consistent hockey lately after the break. I’m just worried about this stretch here and making sure this is my best hockey of year."

Zajac is playing his best hockey of the season since the Olympic break. He entered Friday night’s game in Florida with three goals and three assists in seven games since the Olympics.

Zajac’s 12 goals and 23 assists in 64 games before Friday were not the numbers of the typical No. 1 center, but Devils coach Pete DeBoer often reminds that Zajac’s game cannot be judged on points alone because of everything else he does – taking most of the key faceoffs, killing penalties and watching the back of linemate right wing Jaromir Jagr.

Jagr clearly appreciates having Zajac as his center. Knowing he has the defensively responsible Zajac with him gives Jagr a little more freedom to do his thing in the offensive zone.

"I think it just gives confidence to his linemates and the coaches too," Jagr said. "When he’s on the ice, there’s not many breakdowns."

Yet, Jagr believes there is more offense inside of Zajac and he’s seen more flashes of it recently.

In Tuesday’s 2-1 win in Philadelphia, Zajac demonstrated great patience in scoring the Devils’ first goal, holding onto the puck while cutting across the front of the net before firing it past goaltender Steve Mason.

"It was a great goal," Jagr said. "You know he has it when you make a move like that. There’s 80 percent of the guys who would shoot right away. It’s just to hold it and have patience."

Coming out of the Olympic break, DeBoer held individual meetings with all of his players. To Zajac and Adam Henrique, DeBoer stressed the importance of "attacking the net."

Both players have taken that advice to heart.

"I’ve mentally tried to focus on that a little bit that when I get the chance, shooting it and shooting to score and just trying to take pucks to the net as much as possible," Zajac said.